Thursday, April 1, 2010

ACCUSSED OF RAPE AGAIN. THIS TIME AN INNOCENT 13 YEAR-OLD GIRL IDENTIFIED MAYOR'S FRIEND AS THE PERPETRATOR

On February 12, 2010, at approximately 3A.M., the Lantana, Florida, police received a kidnapping report about a 13 year-old female runaway. Earlier that night, she had been picked up by one Craig Jones, aide to notorious boxing promoter, Don King. Jones is a Mt. Vernon resident and long-time friend and supporter of Mayor Clinton Young.

The girl admitted running away, and advised police she had been at the Lantana Library using computers until 6:00 P.M. She then went to the coin laundry down the street and stayed there until 10:00 P.M. when Jones approached her in a black SUV. She got in and he drove her to Don King’s home in Manalapan, Florida. Jones was staying there to help re-launch the career of heavyweight boxing champ and convicted rapist, Mike Tyson.

The young girl told police Jones insisted on taking pictures of her which made her uncomfortable. After the photo shoot, Jones had sexual intercourse with the underage girl. As recorded in the police report, after Jones finished with her, he washed up, wiped her down with a towel, drove her back to the Lantana Middle School, gave her $50 and sent her on her way.

Jones denied having sex with the runaway, but admitted he picked her up and brought her to King’s house and later dropped her off.

Sources in Mt. Vernon political circles said Mayor Young knew of Jones’s 2003 sexual abuse conviction in Westchester and could not care less. In that case, Jones forced a 14 year-old Yonkers girl to have sex with him while he took pictures of her. Mayor Young reportedly said: “He paid his debt to society, now let him be.” The jury deadlocked on the sexual abuse charge, and rather than face re-trial, Jones copped a plea with Jeannine Pirro’s prosecutors to a misdemeanor charge of “endangering the welfare of a minor.” Jones was sentenced to three years probation and forced to undergo sex offender therapy, but violated that order in 2006 which added two months to his sentence.

Subsequently, Jones attracted much attention by operating an illegal bar and social club at 10 North 3rd Avenue in Mt. Vernon without licenses and permits. Ultimately, community pressure forced him to close down.

In recent months, Mayor Young has been subject to withering criticism from community activist, Samuel Rivers, for surrounding himself with shady characters such as Department of Public Works Commissioner, Terence Horton, once arrested for illegal weapons possession; Director of Civil Defense, Antoine Lowe, once arrested for soliciting an undercover prostitute; and Building Inspector, John Allyene, alleged to have DWI convictions and a prior arrest for illegal weapons possession.

A rape examination of the 13 year-old Florida victim was performed by William Rosenstein, M.D. He reported to Lantana Police the runaway was positive for sexual abuse and dried semen. A fresh tear of her hymen was still bleeding at the time of examination, and bleeding in the vaginal vault behind the hymen indicated very recent penetration. The runaway claimed she was a virgin prior to being raped by Jones.

Clinton Young was a county legislator for many years before he became Mayor of Mt Vernon, and has been in the public eye for years. It is simply inexcusable for a public official to associate with anyone convicted of sex crimes against children. If Jones is convicted of this horrific crime -- which bears striking resemblance to Jones’s 2003 case involving a similarly young victim – then Jones like will be sent away for a long time, and Mayor Young will have one less acolyte at his re-election fund raisers, and one less criminal at his side when he delivers his concession speech following the 2011 mayoral election.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Former New York Bank President First Charged With Attempting To Defraud TARPBank Seized To Protect $500 Million In Deposits.

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, NEIL M. BAROFSKY, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“SIGTARP”), JAMES T. HAYES, JR., the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), RICHARD H. NEIMAN, the Superintendent of the Banks of New York (“NYSBD”), GEORGE VENIZELOS, the Acting Assistant Director in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”),and JON T. RYMER, Inspector General of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC-OIG”), announced the arrest of CHARLES J. ANTONUCCI, SR., the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Park Avenue Bank, on allegations of self-dealing, bank bribery, embezzlement of bank funds, and fraud, among others. ANTONUCCI also was alleged to have attempted to fraudulently obtain more than $11 million worth of taxpayer rescue funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. ANTONUCCI is the first defendant ever charged with attempting to defraud TARP. Additionally, ANTONUCCI was alleged to have used the Park Avenue Bank in a scheme to defraud two pastors of a Florida congregation out of more than $100,000 set aside to build a new church.

ANTONUCCI was arrested in Fishkill, New York. He is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court.

On the evening of Friday, March 12, 2010, the NYSBD seized The Park Avenue Bank and appointed the FDIC as receiver; FDIC has arranged for the sale of The Park Avenue Bank.

According to the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:

The Park Avenue Bank

The Park Avenue Bank was a federally insured bank headquartered at 460 Park Avenue, New York, New York, with retail branches in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bank’s clients consisted primarily of small businesses, for whom the bank made loans, extended lines of credit, and maintained depository accounts. As of the end of 2009, the bank had approximately $500 million on deposit, and over $520 million in assets. ANTONUCCI served as President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of The Park Avenue Bank from June 2004 to October 2009, and also served on its Board of Directors.

The Park Avenue Bank was federally-insured and regulated by the FDIC. Also, as a bank chartered under the laws of New York State, The Park Avenue Bank was regulated by the NYSBD. The bank was required to make certain regular disclosures to these regulators demonstrating that it was financially sound and that it had adequate capital.

FDIC and NYSBD regulations require banks such as The Park Avenue Bank to maintain certain levels of capital, as a percentage of the bank’s total assets. Banks that do not maintain appropriate levels of capital are subject to various restrictions on their activities, and may be required by regulators to raise additional capital. Banks which do not meet minimum capital requirements can be closed by the NYSBD or the FDIC.

The Park Avenue Bank was also an applicant to the Capital Purchase Program of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”). The purpose of TARP was to provide funds to stabilize and strengthen the nation’s financial system by increasing the capital base of viable institutions, enabling them to increase the flow of financing to U.S. businesses and consumers. TARP funds were made available to qualifying banks; one of the critical elements of the TARP qualification process was the capital position of the applicant bank.

Self-Dealing, Bank Bribery, And EmbezzlementThe Complaint alleges that ANTONUCCI engaged innumerous instances of self-dealing while President and CEO of The Park Avenue Bank, including authorizing extensions of credit and overdrafts to customers with whom he had financial relationships; authorizing extensions of overdraft credit to a customer in exchange for the use of the customer’s private plane; and causing the bank to make improvements on, lease, and pay expenses for properties owned by ANTONUCCI.

The Easy Wealth Line Of Credit

ANTONUCCI used a company he owned, Easy Wealth Group, Ltd. (“Easy Wealth”), to fraudulently obtain funds from _ e Park Avenue Bank. ANTONUCCI could not authorize the extension of credit by The Park Avenue Bank to his own company without violating the bank’s rules against self-dealing.Accordingly, to mask his interest in Easy Wealth, in early 2006, ANTONUCCI approached an associate and offered to make him president of Easy Wealth (the “Easy Wealth president”), with the understanding that his first order of business would be to apply for a line of credit from _ e Park Avenue Bank.

The Easy Wealth president applied for a line of credit from The Park Avenue Bank in the amount of $300,000. ANTONUCCI personally approved the line of credit and later increased it to$400,000. ANTONUCCI even assisted the Easy Wealth president in preparing the line of credit application documents. The application as submitted contained numerous misrepresentations, including false statements concerning the Easy Wealth president’s personal assets and a fabricated business plan that contained false information about Easy Wealth’s financial condition and earnings. After the Easy Wealth president had drawn down the line of credit, ANTONUCCI approached him and demanded that he pay$70,000 to ANTONUCCI in the form of interest-free loans. ANTONUCCI only repaid $50,000 of the money. Easy Wealth ultimately defaulted on the fraudulently obtained line of credit, causing a loss to The Park Avenue Bank of $400,000.

The Oxygen Overdrafts

ANTONUCCI also approved approximately $8.5 million worth of over- drafts at The Park Avenue Bank to companies (the “Oxygen-related entities”) controlled by a co-conspirator(“CC-1”), who was a close associate of ANTONUCCI’s. Through the Oxygen-related entities, CC-1 brought numerous deposit accounts to The Park Avenue Bank, and submitted, or caused to be submitted applications for numerous loans from the bank.

On more than ten occasions in 2008 and 2009, ANTONUCCI used CC-1’s private plane to fly for free to, among other places, Florida, Panama, Arizona (so that ANTONUCCI could attend the Super Bowl), and Augusta, Georgia (so that ANTONUCCI could attend the Masters golf tournament). All the while, ANTONUCCI approved over $8 million in overdrafts for the Oxygen-related entities’ various accounts at The Park Avenue Bank. On one occasion in 2009, when a check issued by an Oxygen-related entity bounced,CC-1 communicated to ANTONUCCI that he would not be allowed to use CC-1’s private plane.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Domestic violence and family violence are interchangeable terms and they describe a situation that affects every member of the family, especially children. Family violence creates a home environment in which children live in overt and covert discomfort and fear. Children who witness family violence, domestic abuse are affected in ways similar to children who are themselves physically or psychologically abused. They are often unable to establish secure and nurturing bonds with either parent.

Children are at greater risk for abuse and neglect if they live in a violent home. Statistics show that over 3 million children witness significant violence in their homes each year. Those who see and hear violence at home suffer psychologically, physically and emotionally and may ultimately imitate the same behavior towards their peers, teachers and family.

Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to develop social, emotional, psychological and behavioral problems than those who are not exposed to such behavior. Recent research indicates that children who witness domestic violence tend to show more anger, anxiety, and low self-esteem than children who do not. The trauma they experience can manifest itself in identification with the aggressor, and the emotional, behavioral, social and physical disturbances that interfere with their development often continue into adulthood.

How Children Are Affected

We know that it is very upsetting for children to see one of their parents (or partners) abusing or attacking the other. Children, depending on their age and gender, react differently to domestic violence.

Younger children may become anxious, complain of stomachaches, and/or start to wet their beds. They may find it difficult to sleep, have temper tantrums, and become developmentally arrested psychologically, emotionally and behaviorally. Amongst older children, boys may become aggressive and disobedient, identifying with the aggressor. They may even begin to use violence as a mechanism to solve problems. Some may turn to substance abuse, while others may simply drop out of school.

Girls are more likely to internalize their feelings and distress. They may withdraw from other people and become anxious or depressed and may exhibit low self-esteem, often developing somatic complaints. They are more likely to have eating disorders, or do harm to themselves by taking sedatives, drugs and alcohol, while still others may mutilate themselves.

Children who witness violence at home often struggle with schoolwork. They frequently suffer from symptoms of anxiety, depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder, experiencing nightmares and flashbacks.

Long-Term Effects

Children who have witnessed family domestic violence are more likely to become either abusers or victims themselves. Children tend to copy the learned behaviors of their parents. Boys learn from their fathers to be violent to women. Girls learn from their mothers that violence is a way of life.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

It has been a tough, depressing winter here in Westchester, made more so by the constant revelation of corruption and misconduct in office by individuals who have been entrusted with our hard-earned tax dollars, not to mention our faith and good wishes. Even those of us with a healthy distrust, born of decades of involvement with, and observation of, government at every level, are experiencing a sense of disappointment that seems to know no floor.

It would appear, particularly in County government, that the upper level, the administrators, commissioners, deputy commissioners, of so many departments, in so many instances, are not only unqualified and incompetent, but also far too willing to go along with the program. For 12 years under the incubator environment installed by Larry Schwartz and protected by both Jeanine Pirro and Janet DiFiore, the culture of corruption, the germ of infestation, has multiplied and thrived to the point of complete dominance.

Megalomaniac that he is, Schwartz would go about intimidating Seniors who might get in his way, telling them he was “the most powerful man in Westchester;” and, indeed, he was. No County employee would dare upset him. No candidate for public office, including State Supreme Court Judge’s, Could run without his blessings. Not one penny contributed to the Democratic County Committee existed that wasn’t under Larry’s control.

He controlled not only all of the funds contributed to the County Committee by raising them at event after Spano event. But, more importantly, he controlled the nearly $2 billion County budget. Under Larry Schwartz, a $70 million, 5-year contract renewable for five more years, was flipped and turned into an $87 million deal with a carting company New York City refused to do business with. After all, he had his super-majority in his pocket, having financed their election to the County Legislature. When he told them to jump, they only asked, “How high?”

If the extra $17 million to haul trash wasn’t enough of an insult to wary County Taxpayers, he had a mold-infested, leaky old building in Ardsley that one of Andy’s big contributors couldn’t unload on anybody else, having tried for more than five years. At public hearings, not one citizen spoke in favor of the sweetheart deal, but we own it anyway, and the cost may very well reach $20 million!

A year ago, Larry brought his talents to Governor Paterson; and, look at all the good he’s done up there.

Meanwhile, back here in Westchester, we’ve had our share of political antics and crime what with the election fraud of Ken Jenkins, Jose Alvarado, Wilson Soto, and Wilson Terero and Company, supported by Commissioner/ Chairman Reggie LaFayette and his staff of tax payer paid collaborators.

Adding a new dimension to the Board of Legislators, we now have a coke-snorting legislator from the 15th District, Gordon Burrows, a 52-year-old so snowblind that he couldn’t wait to getto his hotel room and decided he would snort with his buddy at a gas station. Interestingly, in each of his public statements of supposed regret, the last group he acknowledged, just before his dog, were his constituents.

Mind you, though, he’s not giving up that $1,000-a-week parttime job for anyone. Hey, where’s he going to get the money for blow if he does the right thing?

Then, there’s Mayor Bradley of White Plains.

Keep in mind this three-ring circus of crime and corruption here in Westchester is going on with the full knowledge and culpable protection of one DA Janet DiFiore, whose husband tried to bribe the Right-to-Life candidate of the ballot when she ran in 2005. Janet DiFiore ran as a Republican for County positions three times, but, was really a Democrat at heart. Not.

It’s so comforting to know we have someone of her character and principle to protect us from all of the crime and corruption of her buddies and cohorts; isn’t it?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

We believe it’s ludicrous that media, The Journal News, and Cablevision News12, approach the likes of Ken Jenkins, unlawfully occupying a seat on the Westchester County Legislature, for an opinion with respect to the arrest of Gordon Burrows for the use and possession of cocaine. Jenkins was quoted as saying, “As a legislative body, we work according to the law.” If that were so, Jenkins and Burrows would both be locked up. Mr. Jenkins is a liar, straight and simple. Consider the irony in the present situation. Jenkins, his wife and children, live at 108 Bushie Avenue, Yonkers, in the 15th Legislative District, which just happens to be Gordon Burrows’ district. Burrows knows that, and so does every other legislator. Yet, Jenkins, without any opposition, took over the seat once occupied by Andrea Stewart-Cousins, in the 16th District, by committing a felony, Election Fraud, re-registering, fraudulently, in December 2006, claiming a multi-family dwelling on Moultrie Avenue, more than half a mile from where he actually lives, as his domicile.

If prosecuted on just one count of Election Fraud, and convicted, he will be subject to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. As it stands, he’s guilty of several counts over the last three years or more.

Ironically, of all of his 16 co-conspirators, the one who had the greatest obligation to expose Jenkins’ arrogant fraud, was Gordon Burrows, in whose district Jenkins actually lives. But it is so conspicuous that the County Legislature is one big joke on the taxpaying public, an unnecessary extra layer of political fat.

To prove their corrupt commitment to each other’s ripoff of their constituents, they made Jenkins their Chairman, in effect saying, “We know he’s committing a fraud, and doesn’t belong here. But we’ll show you how much we care about you people who pay our salaries and benefits. We’re going to put this fraud in your face by making him Chairman of the Board.”

Imagine, Jenkins had the gall to tell a reporter for The Journal News, referring to Burrows, “He is not the first person in Countyemployment who has been arrested, but we are held to a muchhigher standard.”

Mr. Jenkins, we couldn’t agree more. You and your co-conspirator buddies should be held to “a much higher standard,” and both you and Mr. Burrows should be locked up. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Judge Sentences Kerik To Substantially More Than Upper Level Of Federal Guidelines.

Grants Him Three Months Before Surrendering To Prison United States District Court, 300 Quarropas Street, White Plains Judge Stephen C. Robinson, Presiding.

Last Thursday morning, February 18th, former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik appeared for sentencing before United States District Court Judge Stephen C. Robinson following his plea of guilty to eight separate felony charges. Although not binding on Robinson, Kerik’s attorney, Michael Bachner, had come to an agreement several months ago with federal prosecutors Michael Bosworth, Perry Carbone and Elliot Jacobson, that his guilty plea would subject him to a sentence of between 27 to 33 months should the sentencing judge elect to follow the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Robinson opened the session at 10:11am with the statement, “We are here to sentence Mr. Kerik on his guilty pleading to eight felonies.” Addressing Kerik’s attorney, the Judge then said, “Let me first turn to you, Mr. Bachner; have you had a chance to go over the pre-sentence report?”

Bachner replied, “We have,” and then indicated that any prior issues with the report were “deemed to be resolved.”
Robinson then turned to Bosworth, Carbone and Jacobson, who indicated they, too, were satisfied with the report.The Judge then reviewed all of the five documents that he had read, (1) the pre-sentence probation report, (2) the sentencing memorandum from Defense Attorney Bachner, (3) the sentencing memorandum from the Government, (4) letters and statements from Kerik supporters, and (5) Kerik’s plea allocution.

Robinson then said, “Let’s move forward,” signalling Attorney Bachner’s opening remarks. Bachner declared, “Bernard Bailey Kerik is before you with the deepest humility and remorse, Your Honor. He knows by his conduct that he’s let people down.” Bachner emphasized the need for the Court to impose a sentence “sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to achieve the Court’s goals.”

Bachner took the opportunity to remind Robinson that his client’s plea understanding with the Government involved a sentence that would be between 27 and 33 months. He then went into an account of how Kerik, as a detective with the NYPD, had saved the life of a fellow detective, Hector Santiago, at the scene of a “drug buy gone bad.” Bachner referenced “a Talmudic” that “One who saves a life, saves the World.” He then declared, “Your Honor, Bernard Kerik has rescued the world many times over.”

Robinson then broke in with, “I’m going to interrupt your statement. At the same time we have a good cop, the good commissioner, we have the man who was violating the law. Not a bad day, or bad week, or bad year, but all the time.” The Judge repeats, “At the time he is doing good things, he is also violating the law.”

The Judge went on, “He had things on his website that trouble me no end; making it appear he was innocent, and prosecutors were not acting in good faith. We had Mr. Kerik violating orders of this Court, willing to violate the law and obstructing the investigation.”

Bachner broke in with, “Mr. Kerik is a complicated person. He would acknowledge he was inconsistent and wrong. When you’re so high on the pedestal, your fall is very painful.”

Robinson came back with, “At one point I told Mr. Kerik, ‘as you rise through the ranks of public service, you now receive but’...” The Judge was making the point that high office was not necessarily accompanied by high financial reward. He declared, “My law clerks will leave next year and make more money than I do. I can’t afford to send my daughter to the college she goes to.”

He then asked rhetorically, “What is the message that is sent by this sentence today?”

Bachner, as if to calm Robinson down, countered with a remark about general deterrence, and then added, “Twenty-seven months is no slap on the wrist.”

But Robinson was not to be stifled. He came right back with, “I am very seriously thinking about going above the Guidelines.”

Bachner then reminded him of the “27 to 33 month agreement.”

Again, the Judge came right back, “That doesn’t bind me.”

Bachner, going for broke, then said, “Heroism and public service must be taken into account.” Then shifting gears a bit, he declared, “Mr. Kerik is an extraordinary good person in so many ways. We have an obligation to remember the good someone has done. The good outweighs the bad he has done.”

Then, assuming a sentence closer to 27 months for his 54-year-old client, Bachner said, “At age 56 there will be many people who admire him, but many more who don’t. He is remorseful and begs the Court to allow him to resume his life. His supporters are heartbroken by his conduct.”

Now, Robinson began to reveal his own fears, declaring, “People will look at what happens here and it will either resonate with them or it won’t.”

Bachner, who earlier spoke of the sentencing, some years earlier, of a former Connecticut governor, John Roland, now made the mistake of invoking that case again. This time Judge Robinson informed him, offering, “I was the United States Attorney who started that investigation.” (Connecticut Governor John Roland had received some $250,000-worth of renovation to his summer home from a developer doing business with the state.)

All told, Kerik’s attorney argued in his client’s behalf for some 40 minutes.

The Judge now offered Bernard Kerik the opportunity to speak in his own behalf. Kerik rose to his feet and told the Court, “I make no excuses, and take full responsibility for the mistakes I’ve made. I ask only that you allow me to return to my wife and our two little girls as soon as possible.”

Assistant United States Attorney Bosworth now had his say, declaring, “However committed he was to enforcing the law when it came to others, he violated the law when it suited his purposes though.” He then remarked, “The Defendant alone is the architect of his public fall from grace. He committed crime after crime in service of himself over a period of a decade.”

And, now Judge Robinson chimed in with, “There are multiple felonies that Mr. Kerik has pled guilty to that do not influence the Guidelines.”

It was now 11:30am, an hour and twenty minutes into the sentencing, and Robinson was seriously agonizing, “As I’ve already mentioned, for me, Mr. Kerik is a complicated character. The Guidelines don’t take into account the almost operatic properties of this case. We don’t just have anyone here; we have the Police Commissioner of New York City continuing to commit crimes. I have been particularly troubled by the way Mr. Kerik, and people on his behalf, continue to behave.”

Robinson continued, asking, “What is the appropriate consequence for his misconduct?”

Drawing closer to a pronouncement of sentence, but still agonizing, Robinson now opined, “That Mr. Kerik would use the 9/11 event for self-aggrandisement is a dark place in the soul for me.”

He then went on to sentence Kerik to 48 months; 15 months more than the high end of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, plus three years of probation. He was, however, persuaded, after much discussion, to allow Kerik to turn himself in to the designated federal prison on May 17, rather than remanding him immediately to jail.

Analysis:

The two-hour-long sentencing of Bernard Kerik was ‘vintage’ Judge Robinson, complete with much agonizing and thoughtful consideration to all aspects and individuals sure to be impacted by his decision.

In imposing a 48-month incarceration, 15 months longer than suggested by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, Robinson was not ignoring those Guidelines, but, rather, rejecting them because of his appropriate concerns for the message he would convey both to the Defendant and to the world of observers.However, having so lengthened Mr. Kerik’s term of incarceration, the good Judge remained reasonable and fair, allowing him to surrender to prison authorities in 90 days despite the Government’s arguments to immediately remand him.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

“The Power To Tax Is The Power To Destroy” Kurt Colucci, Author And Tax Activist,Tells Publisher Sam Zherka, “Politicians Are Brokers Of Greed” Urges Citizens To Embrace Tea Party Movement

New Rochelle, New York, February 9, 2010... A city, roughly 10 square miles, with a diverse population over 80,000, New Rochelle is the birthplace of Westchester County Taxpayers Association founder Kurt Colucci, a former college professor presently a businessman who continues to make The Queen City Office Sound his home. Last Tuesday Colucci was interviewed by Guardian publisher Sam Zherka.

Colucci, a very outspoken political critic, tax activist and author of the soon-to-be published A Tax Slaves’ Manifesto, has been ruffing feathersand taking potshots at Westchester and Albany politicians. Last year, he helped organize a dozen Tea Parties all over Westchester, including a modest one in New Rochelle, attended by more than 300 people, and a much larger rally in White Plains on April 25th that drew over 2500 people.

The Guardian asked Colucci if he thought the Tea Party Movement will make a difference in races going forward?

Colucci responded, “The Tea Party Movement is in its early stages; they haven’t seen anything yet. The year 2010 will usher in the Rise of the Taxpayer!”

Colucci went on, “It is important that taxpayers, the economic backbone of this country, steer clear of political party loyalty. Both major parties have merged into one national party, The Party Of Big Spending, and are to blame for the current economic crisis. Our Liberty is hanging by a thread.”

During this very difficult economic climate dubbed, ‘The Great Recession’, Colucci’s message would seem to be resonating with taxpayers all over Westchester County and the nation.

Municipalities throughout Westchester are raising taxes at an unsustainable rate, further economically enslaving its citizens and stripping them of their equity, their homes, and, in many cases, everything they’ve worked long and hard to achieve.

George Nivkor, a Yonkers resident and Tea Party supporter, is calling upon every taxpayer to unite against politicians.

“My father, a hardworking immigrant from Communist Poland, is saddened by what is happening in Westchester County, and America at large, and can only compare it to Communism,” says Nivkor.

Turning to his own city, New Rochelle Colucci pointed out Mayor Noam Bramson and City Manager Chuck Strome, two of New York State’s highest paid municipal officials. Colucci reminded The Guardian that in recent weeks both the Mayor and City Manager have come under heavy fire for their exhorbitant tax increases and the layoff of several firefighters from an already understaffed fire department.

In 2007 readers will recall that Bramson, a staunch political ally of former County Executive Andrew Spano, together with the New Rochelle City Council, orchestrated a nearly 50% pay hike for themselves at a time when our present economic downturn was already becoming very evident. At the time many New Rochelle citizens expressed outrage, some calling the pay raises outright corruption. Numerous calls from The Guardian to Mayor Bramson went unanswered.

“The biggest threat to the American Dream is our own elected officials,” Collucci went on. “they are putting our families in harm’s way by reducing essential services in police and fire departments, all the while spending our hard-earned tax dollars faster than we can earn them and, further enslaving us economically.” Millions of Americans are currently losing their homes to bank and tax foreclosures due to bad lending, and, Predatory Taxation by government. Economists are predicting that property values will continue to decline so long as taxes continue to increase, turning the American Dream into an American Nightmare.

As for the average hardworking, economically enslaved, and exhausted American taxpayer, the Tea Party Movement seems to be the only way to take back Westchester County and the country from self-serving, corrupt politicians who appear to be on a course to destroy the American way of life.

The sentiment amongst citizens throughout the nation, and especially here in Westchester, the highest taxed county in the United States, is antiincumbent. As for this 2010 election cycle, it’s a bad time to be one of the incumbents, or, as Colucci calls them, ‘Tax Terrorists’ as 2010 is the year of the Taxpayer Revolution.

George Nivkor reiterated to The Guardian, by telephone, that “2010 is the year of the Taxpayer’s Revolution.”

Chief Judge John Marshal, in the McCulloch v Maryland case, declared, “The unlimited power to tax is the power to destroy.”

Stat Counter.

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"Westchester's Most Influential Weekly"

The Westchester Guardian Mission Statement.

The Westchester Guardian Mission Statement:

OUR MISSION: The Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers living in, and/or employed in, Westchester County. The Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, reliable information without favor or compromise.

Our first duty will be to the PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth,without fear or hesitation, no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the finest tradition of FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily journals, we will instead seek to provide the broader, more comprehensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened with analysis, where appropriate.

From amongst journalism’s classic keywords: who, what, when, where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the initial ‘spin’ and ‘damage control’ often characteristic of immediate news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth.

We will take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot be obtained elsewhere.To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not necessarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be all things to all readers.

We must carefully balance the presentation of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed.